Michaela Burrell Youth Been Framed Ready For Business Moving beyond Business Start-up: Using the law to connect people With the help of the NBV Enterprise Solutions Ltd (NBV) Ready for Business Programme, many budding new entrepreneurs in the East Midlands are making their dreams a reality and starting their own business. Michaela Burrell from Nottingham is one such entrepreneur. Armed with a background in multiple sectors, Michaela also had a law degree and a genuine wish to make a difference to the lives of young people. Raising awareness of rights and responsibilities Before self-employment, Michaela had worked at a nightclub, in fashion retail and had also volunteered at her local Citizen’s Advice Bureau. She had the idea for “Youth Been Framed”, a business that provides legal awareness training for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, whilst studying for her own law degree. Michaela commented: “It was clear to me that legal awareness could not only help young people to understand their rights when it came to our democratic system, but awareness could also help to educate them that with democracy, comes responsibility.” Michaela was keen to start her own business, but knew she needed sound business advice to move forward. Michaela met NBV Business Adviser Seema Edwards at a networking event and arranged to attended NBV master classes in: book- keeping, marketing, networking, budget development and getting found online. She also received personal business advice from Seema, who added: “Michaela was in a good position, with a great idea and the qualifications to make her business a success. What she needed was more information and advice about how she could shape her business idea; which was where we at NBV could help!” Engaging with the law through creativity Armed with a business plan and sound business advice, Michaela was able to focus on developing Youth Been Framed. She commented: “My approach is unique because it only requires young people to use their passion and talent to engage with the law. Youth Been Framed uses drama, film, media, music and other creative means to establish a learning programme that enhances young people’s legal awareness and creates stronger relationships between them, the society in which they live and the public bodies who run it.” Michaela added: “Young people usually hold either a creative or an intellectual mind-set. My method of engagement gives each young person the opportunity to acquire both, as Youth Been Framed strikes the balance between developing creative skills and gaining intellectual knowledge. This approach closes the gap that exists between intellectual and creative young people and creative young people and public bodies.”